Senate Bill 117 by Senator Tarver Stopped in Committee
At the Senate Education Committee meeting on Thursday, May 27th, Senate Bill 117 was modified. While we're disappointed that this legislation will no longer serve its intended purpose, the Senate President has agreed to help us pass a resolution to prevent teachers and students from being unfairly held to the usual accountability standards after learning was disrupted by a global pandemic and multiple natural disasters…circumstances outside of anyone’s control....

Pay Raise Proposal Modified in House and Senate
This week the House passed a budget (HB 1) for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget still needs to be approved by the Senate and will likely changed. The good news: The House’s budget does include money for teacher and school employee pay raises. The bad news: it’s not as much as we had hoped. The budget includes a $800 pay raise for teachers/certified employees and $400 for classified personnel. This is more than what was originally proposed by BESE in March ($400 and $200), but less than what had been recommended by the Senate Education Committee last week ($1000 and $500).

Employees have received only one general raise in over a decade

7 May 2021

Topeka, KS – In response to the Legislature's Budget Conference Committee failure to agree to a 2.5% pay raise for state employees, AFT Kansas President Sarah LaFrenz gave the following statement:

Late Breaking News!  While we were putting this issue to bed, we had a meeting with NBOE, and there were some additional updates I wanted to get out!

- Salary Guide Advancement:  For staff who will be moving to the Earned MA or Earned PhD guides for September, they MUST have their transcripts into the district by July 1, 2021!   Send the transcripts to transcripts@nps.k12.nj.us.

As the BFP negotiations team continues to work toward a settlement of the 2019-21 contract, there are times when we need they need help.  It is time for members to lend that help.  The BFP is planning two organizing activities for May.

                                            By Bobbie Margo 

                                              by Bobbie Margo 

Support FCTA member Meg Comerford in her bid to the Hamburg Town Council!

Endorsed by both the FCTA and the Buffalo Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, Meg will bring a much-needed perspective to the Council.

Check out http://www.votemeg.com to get a lawn sign, make a donation, or sign up to volunteer! 

Remember: Early Voting starts June 12 at the Moose Lodge on Church St. in the Village!

Let's help get the word out!

May 2, 2021 ~ Bow, NH

This is a very short bulletin for the upcoming week.  The most important action is the public hearing on the State budget, to be held by the Senate Finance Committee this coming Tuesday, May 4. There are actually two hearings, starting at 1 pm and again at 6 pm, though this is largely a ploy to allow time for senators to take a break and grab some dinner.

Why is this important?  It is the only opportunity for the public to weigh in on possible additions and deletions to the State budget.  After this, much of the work will be done behind closed doors amongst Senators, the governor, and House Republican leadership, with a budget to be voted upon by the Senate at the start of June and sent back to the House for either acceptance, rejection, or a Committee of Conference to try to iron out differences between House and Senate versions.

What can you do?  Register your opposition to the bills in question (HB1 or HB2, does not really matter) but even better sign up to write to members of the Senate Finance Committee.    Write to the senators--make your voice heard!!  Links for registering opposition and for writing to senators are below. What follows are the primary points of concern to AFT-NH, but we have additional useful material that can be made available to you.